Pull to refresh
Logo
Daily Brief
Following Why Sign Up
MBTA Green Line C Branch bypasses Hawes Street for accessibility upgrades

MBTA Green Line C Branch bypasses Hawes Street for accessibility upgrades

Built World Boston, MA local

Brookline station work is part of a push to make every Beacon Street stop wheelchair accessible

August 18th, 2026: MBTA details September service changes

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

Green Line C Branch trains are skipping Hawes Street in Brookline through November 7. Riders walk 4 to 6 minutes to Saint Mary's or Kent while crews rebuild the platform for wheelchair access.

Every C Branch station along Beacon Street is being rebuilt under the MBTA's Green Line Transformation program. The agency targets substantial completion by spring 2027.

Why it matters

Wheelchair users still can't board at many of Boston's oldest stations; this project makes the entire C Branch accessible, one Brookline stop at a time.

Questions about this story

Free account needed to ask — your question is kept and asked for you right after sign-up. Answers are public.

No questions yet — be the first to ask.

Key Indicators

19 days
Hawes Street outbound bypass
Trains skip Hawes outbound from October 19 to November 7 while crews rebuild the platform.
2 stations
C Branch stations reopened with accessible platforms
Englewood and Tappan opened in July 2026; Hawes and others follow.
Spring 2027
Target for substantial completion
All Beacon Street corridor stations rebuilt for accessibility by spring 2027.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Ever wondered what historical figures would say about today's headlines?

Sign up to generate historical perspectives on this story.

Log in Sign Up

Organizations Involved

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Public transit agency
Running the Green Line C Branch accessibility upgrades

Boston-area public transit agency operating the subway, bus, and commuter rail networks.
Town of Brookline, Massachusetts
Town of Brookline, Massachusetts
Local government
Coordinating with MBTA on design review, permitting, and public engagement

Brookline's Department of Public Works coordinates with the MBTA on the station project.
JB
Jacobs-Barletta
Design-build contractor
Design-build team executing the C Branch construction

Design-build contractor hired by the MBTA to deliver the C Branch accessibility project.

Timeline

April 2026 October 2026

6 events Latest: August 18th, 2026 · 1 month ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Hawes Street outbound platform bypassed

    Upcoming Service change

    Outbound trains skip Hawes Street through November 7; nearest stops are a 4-to-6-minute walk away.

  2. MBTA details September service changes

    Latest Announcement

    Agency says Brandon Hall work continues and Dean Road work begins; Green Line signal upgrades also proceed.

  3. Second week-long C Branch shutdown

    Construction

    Shuttle bus service runs August 8–16; crews install precast tactile edge units at Hawes, St. Paul, Summit, and Brandon Hall.

  4. Englewood and Tappan platforms open

    Milestone

    New accessible platforms at the two stations open, with median parking restored; finish work continues.

  5. First week-long C Branch shutdown

    Construction

    Rail service replaced by shuttles for 12 days; 24/7 work focuses on Englewood, Dean, Tappan, and Summit stations.

  6. C Branch accessibility construction launches

    Construction

    Crews begin platform demolition and reconstruction along Beacon Street the week after the Boston Marathon.

Scenarios

1

Hawes Street reopens on schedule

Likely Resolves by Nov 14, 2026

Discussed by: MBTA project schedule; Brookline town updates

Crews finish the outbound platform rebuild by November 7 and trains resume stopping at Hawes. The 24/7 construction approach and the on-time openings of Englewood and Tappan in July make an on-schedule reopen consistent with the project's pace so far.

2

C Branch project completes on time in spring 2027

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: MBTA project announcements; Brookline DPW

All Beacon Street corridor stations reach substantial completion by spring 2027. The accelerated schedule relies on three planned week-long rail shutdowns, the first two of which were completed in May and August 2026. A third shutdown plus daytime work would finish the remaining stations.

3

Project delay pushes completion past spring 2027

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Riders and local officials; history of MBTA project overruns

Construction slips past the spring 2027 target, extending station bypasses into late 2027 or beyond. Weather windows, materials delivery, or permitting issues around the remaining stations could push the finish line. The Hawes U-turn alternatives analysis and public hearing process also add uncertainty to the timeline.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

July 1990

Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)

President George H. W. Bush signed the ADA, making it illegal for public transit systems to deny access to people with disabilities. Boston's subway opened in 1897, nearly a century before wheelchair access became a legal requirement.

Then

Transit agencies began adding elevators and ramps, but retrofitting century-old stations is slow and expensive.

Now

Three and a half decades later, many of Boston's oldest stations still lack step-free access, which is why projects like the C Branch retrofit remain necessary.

Why this matters now

The Hawes Street platform rebuild is a direct application of the ADA's mandate to a station built long before accessibility rules existed.

2026–2029

Symphony Station closure (2026–2029)

The MBTA closed Symphony Station on the Green Line E Branch for major accessibility upgrades — four new elevators, raised platforms, accessible bathrooms, and improved lighting. The 85-year-old station is expected to reopen in spring 2029.

Then

Riders detour to nearby stations or the parallel Route 39 bus for years.

Now

When complete, Symphony will be fully step-free and set the template for other Green Line stations.

Why this matters now

It shows the range of accessibility work: a few weeks to rebuild one platform at Hawes, three years for a full station renovation at Symphony.

Sources

(4)
+2
MBTA Town of Brookline, MA MBTA MBTA

More from Boston, MA

Openings, permits and council decisions in Boston, MA, in your inbox every Monday.